Zoy.org has put up a webpage that describes 42 different ways to distribute the DeCSS code. Distribution methods begin with simple HTTP and FTP, and delve into more obscure distribution methods such as hiding it in image files or NetBIOS communications.

If you recall, DeCSS is a program that decrypts CSS encryption and allows unrestricted viewing of DVD movies in operating systems including Linux and FreeBSD which currently have no licensed viewers available for them. The MPAA filed suit against the unlicensed use of its CSS encryption technology and won an injunction to stop websites like 2600 from listing, or even linking to, the DeCSS source code.

Intervideo, a software company that makes the WinDVD software DVD player, has been promising a version of “>LinDVD, a Linux DVD movie player , since June 2000 and has still not delivered a functional version available for purchase or download.

ROB'S OPINION
It's pretty clear at this point that there's not really any way to keep a lid on the DeCSS source code. In reaction to what many believe is an unjust ruling, it has spread out all over the Web like an unstoppable virus of freedom.

This list of distribution methods could serve as a guideline to distribute any code or speech that is deemed illegal in our recently overly litigious society. According to the judge who made the ruling, code is not speech, but I beg to differ. If you read off the code it becomes speech, and thus is not illegal according to our beloved US Consitution. Freedom of Speech will overcome this ruling in time, but until then you have 42 ways to get DeCSS and spread it around the Web, if that is what you believe in.

If not, you probably view this as a fiendish plan to destroy the movie industry that continues to bring you instant classics like Deuce Bigalow.

USER COMMENTS 17 comment(s)

*shudder*(3:31pm EST Thu Oct 19 2000)ok - by dannyde

Instant Pulp – Just Add Greed…(3:34pm EST Thu Oct 19 2000)Agreed…

As long as the movie industry keeps releasing the fettid pulp they so consistently produce, there's not much incentive for me to go out and try to get a Video DVD player (hardware- or software-based) of any kind up and running.

Granted, there have been some exceptions (I, for one, think the recent movies “Gladiator,” “American Beauty,” “The Matrix,” and “The Cider House Rules” are worthy of viewing), but for the most part, the Establishment (i.e., the MPAA) has gone downhill, with no bottom in sight…

And on another note – the Screen Actors' Guild – which is on strike against advertisers and advertising agencies – is deciding whether to discipline Elizabeth Hurley ["Austin Powers," "Bedazzled"] for making an ad in her native U.K. She apologized, saying that she was unaware of the strike in the U.S., and donated $25,000 of her own money to the SAG union as compensation for her faux-pas… Doesn't matter, though. The SAG is going ahead with hearings on the matter. The upshot? She could be blackballed from working in the entertainment industry.

Seems like everything connected to the entertainment industries these days is mired in greed, greed, greed…

Give me independent films, artists, and voices any day!

Just my 2 cents… - by K. Adams

Sounding Hypocritical…(3:45pm EST Thu Oct 19 2000)I admit that I probably sound hypocritical in the above post, touting MPAA-released movies in one sentence, and lauding independent work the next.

But here's how I see things: The MPAA and SAG were, at one time, worthwhile organizations. But their day is over. It's time for them to go… They have become corrupt behemoths that no longer serve any functions more useful than to line the pockets of those at the top of the pyramid…

I just hope that sooner or later, movie stars, celebrities, and other entertainers will come to realize that they don't need these monolithic organizations anymore.

Technologies like the Internet, when used correctly, can empower them to stand on their own, and work on projects they actually like to work on, without having to submit to the will of protection rackets like the MPAA and SAG…

Just another 2 cents. - by K. Adams

speech version(3:55pm EST Thu Oct 19 2000)It is a good point about US constitution…However, US is only one of more than 160 countries. Who cares about US anyway, besides some local citizens?

I think that Global Human Rights have also Freedom of speech plus Freedom of writing of speech…

- by Just a man

Well…(4:05pm EST Thu Oct 19 2000)The best way I know how to get DeCSS is to save the small .zip file that I have it stored in on my computer. Only until I perform a crime with it does that file become illegal, that is on a personal and private level true. Keep it is my super secret hidden folder deep in some random directory, or on my desktop, and I don't have to worry much about it at all now do I? - by distempered

Great Site!(4:35pm EST Thu Oct 19 2000)Cool site! It's just too bad he demonstrated a certain ignorance when he explained that he purposely excluded DeCSS distribution through services like Napster because “things like Napster are only intended at illegally sharing copyrighted material” (and the word “only” was in italics for emphasis). Oh well, it's still a cool page.- by Rary

Defamation!!!(6:08pm EST Thu Oct 19 2000)OK, now I have the perfect idea. I'll spam the entire world with the DeCSS code and sign it with the contact information of some random person who thinks total anonymity is their birthright. (see stories from Wednesday)

That way, I'll kill two birds with one stone. Everyone will have the DeCSS code, so it won't have to be distributed much, and I'll be able to prove my point on the anonymity/responsibility discussion.

BTW, I am also against purchasing DVDs (at the moment). They're too expensive for what they are, the selection isn't all that great, and Zen still hasn't put out any DVD drives.- by format c:

US vs Global “rights”(9:55pm EST Thu Oct 19 2000)to: just a man. We, as human, have certain inalienable rights. Governments don't give them to us; governments take them AWAY. True, the US Constitution (specifically, the Bill of Rights therein) only has legal weight in the US, but the concepts it outlines are universal. Besides, the DECSS court ruling was handed down by a US court, therefore the US Constitution is the relevant document which will (hopefully) cause it to be overturned. - by xyzzy

This site sucks(10:57pm EST Thu Oct 19 2000)Here is how every news item on this site goes:News from another source is taken and modified to represent the views of the idiots at UGeek. Then geniuses like Rob or Sam or dumbshit give their worthless opinion on the subject.Then a bunch of comments are made by the few people who actually read this site. Wow, what a job you guys are doing – wasting a domain name that could be put to better use. - by SITESUCKS

…and yet(1:31am EST Fri Oct 20 2000)And yet, you keep dialing in through your AT&T dial up account from New York and spamming our message boards. If we suck so much, then why do you keep coming back here? And why do you know us by name? We have plenty of users that actually appear to enjoy our service. Maybe you should leave them alone and stop making an ass of yourself. - by RobGeek

Give it a rest…(8:51am EST Fri Oct 20 2000)“Sitesucks,” if this site sucks, why are you here? If you need me to, I can give you some remedial training on using portals and your URL bar to take you to a site of your choice.

I like this site. So what, geek.com doesn't have a huge staff of reporters with huge expense accounts? Unlike SOME sites, I can rely on geek.com to give me technical news, and not be intel shills (*coff* ZDNet,CNET *coff*) or play up every story for its hype factor (*coff* wired *coff*). Besides all tech news come from the anyways. ;-) - by EEguy

Hey sitesucks, suck this(10:59am EST Fri Oct 20 2000)I find this to be the best laid out, and one of the most informative news pages on the web. Get a life and go bash someone worth bashing. (*ntel or the such) - by Cfour@geek.com

I have no intentions of ever spamming anybody, because I despise spam myself. Just last week I went to an amusement park and there were super-religious anti-Halloween people standing on the corner holding signs and handing out pieces of paper to anybody who made eye contact. I consider their signs free speech, but the flyers were definitely spam. They just ended up on the ground all over the sidewalk and street and the people who handed them out didn't take responsibility for the mess.

As for my idea of mass DeCSS distribution, it was totally unoriginal and especially unfunny when taken out of context of the other comment board. Oh well. If an infinite number of me were to post an infinite number of posts…one of them might end up being totally worthless. :)- by format c:

thanks(8:28am EST Sun Jan 08 2006)This is an excellent site thanks for the information! - by andy